Rescue tank



Aug. 12, 1930. H. E. GRIESHABER RESCUE TANK Filed Sept. 4, 1928 2 Shoots-Sheet l1 Jg f/ueni'fof 0 Z Gries@ aber" m afm/@JMW 1 Aug. l2, 1930. AH. E.' GmEsl-IABER RESCUE TANK snntssnw 2 Filed Sept. 4, 1928 for use with submarine boatsjaiidmore par-f1 Patented Aug. `12, 1,930 l eMTPES HUGO n. eninsnnnaii," Cnniiwiaonnon; Connncricii'r," Assienoa'ro ELECTRIC BOAT ,ATENTQFFICE1- coi'iriaiiiz;A 'CF enormi; COnnnCTiCUnA CORPORATION on nav/*JERSEY m RESCUE TANK Application iled September This invention frelates Ito rescue devices ticularly to tanks or carsffor removing, the men from a disabled submarine, and to ge'ai` and guiding meansy forfconveying thetank` to andseating it upony thefescape hatch'trunk.

At depths oic approximately Onehundred feet, it is practicable for the ,menj to'svviin to the surface to beurescued...In'my ycopending application i'o'r escape hatch vfor sub-l marines, Serial No. 275,780, tiledMay 7, 1928, l have disclosed ya hatch constructionand means for' open-ing the outer hatch cover from vWithin the hull, permittinginen fenf Y. trapped in a. sul/oniarine,to escapegsafely" through the hatchl if the' aanbied bonte ai a depui iii X4 cess of approximately one Vhundred feet, Vit

is "necessary to employ rescue cars""or` :tanks to ,effectl the ie'scueof vthe entrapped meuf. Such ya car, capable` ,of reinoviijigfa-1 fn'umber of men aton'e tiine, is .disclosed inmyfcopending application "Serial No. 266,541, .filed April 2, 1928, forrescue buoy. The Caroi my application identified requires `the useof guide linesand divers-in properly positioningit upon the hatch;` In rescuing. inenfroin a. disabled submarine'boat, particularly one which has Abeen disabled byv collision, time' is an essential consideration. Af'inaterial saving ottime can be eiiected byv eliminating the necessity of using divers or guide lines iii positioning the rescueV tank upon'the hatch to p-i'ovidca cableior attachmentid thetank r and Winding means `for the cable, carried by the boat and so arranged `asjto lea-ve the hatch trunk clear and unobstructed"oruse yvhenithe hatch covers are open, as when the VboatisY on the surfacefl Further'objectsfand advantagesof my invention vvill appear from the 'detail description; In the drawings?- Fig; 1 a sectionalview `through a'taink and a hatch trunk ,provided with `cable Windi iiig means,`iin accordance with my invention,

parts being shovvn" in elevation and broken away, and the tank being broken away;l Y

Fig.' 2 is a sectionalview through aVV modified form of tank and the louter portion of a hatch trunk, in accordance Withmyinveii-` tioinparts' being shown in elevation 'andl f Figj?) is a section throughzthe tip member oi' the guiding structure, and associatedparts,

parts'beingl shown in elevation. y In Fig. 1I haveillustrated atank y prising a top section 2, a mid-section 3 and circular Vcross-section 'and isA capable "of ivthL standing the high" pressures Which'fobtaiii at great depths.- Section'tv is" provided with yanl inwardlyfprojecting flange 5 defining a hatch'opening 6, andy with an Aoutwardly lextending annularlshoulder y7 having va recess in whichl is mounted aA gasketv 8*. lFlange f5 is provided with a recess iiiwhich'ismounted,

a gasket 95' Thisgasket coopcratesivith a cover'l() to 4formatight closure about openling 6. Thelcov'er is secured closed bydogs k11,101? known type, lwhich can be operated from jeither side of vthe cover for releasing stood inthe art. i i

Bottom section 4 of thetank` is further provided with a ydownivardly projecting anj nular rib 11', the outer face 12 of ivhichis oi"r securing the same, in a manner Wellunderinclined from shoulder 7 downwardly and inwardly ofthe car.v Surface 12 of rib'11 forms a seat for the base of a rustoconical d guide member 13'.4 fThis member `is secured I toa ring 14 `secured to the outer ends Iof a pairof arms 15 joined by a coll-arl slidable on va rod 17.` The `upper end volf this rod screwsinto a ,boss 1 8 integral with cover 10. A handle 19 is feathered on the rod to -itacili-` tatescrevving it into and out of the boss; A nut 20-screvvs onto rod 17 andisturned up tight against l .handle 19, i after lthe lrod h as 1 com? abottom section 41, suitably secured together, as by Welding; This tank'is preferablyfot v L effective in `guiding been screwed into boss 18, for locking the rod in position.

A tip structure is mounted on the lower end of rod 17 and acts to secure a cable thereto and to hold the guide member seated upon the rib 1f. Thisstriicture,comprises upper fru'st-conical member 21 and a lower ysocket member 22, these tvvo members being connected for relative turning. movementY by a channel, ring v23jjtlie flanges lof which en gage into grooves 24 and 25 of members 21 ,and 22, respectively.

Member 21 screws upon the lower end of rrod 17.A To facilitate screiving the inember onto and offA ofthe rod, handles 26 Vare pivotally'scured, at 27, in member 21; These handles, when notin use, are disposed ir. openings 28 inmember 2'1'. A cable' .29 is passed into socket member 22 and has its end f portion sp1-eau 'and shaped, in known inanner, ui form a; head sushi-ch' aus into the Y socket member.

,Y When vineiili,21 is secured ,onto rod 17 it "contti-cts'. iiiitli the lovvfe end of member 13 and herds the latter tightly upon its 'seat 12. The members 13, 21 and 2'2l constitute a guiding'- structure of conical shape .eX-tending' downwardly from lshoulder 7. This structure is free of all projections and is` liighly that-ank into, and posi; mening it upon, the hatch trunk.

The tank, in Aco'njurir'zvti''with the guiding and centering means, is `used vith' a' hatch trunk 31 which extends through hull 32 `of a submarine boaty of liiovvn construction. r,'lhefupper end Aof this tru-'lt is 4disposed adjacent deck 33 of the super-structure. Trunk 31 isof Whati'nay beconsidered standard or conventional type and is providedivith a removablehcover Aor closureat each end.

, The trunk 31 1s provided With a lower section34 secured 'to the body7 of the ltrunk in a suitable manner,y as by ,the vangle ring 35,

. andy frmiiiga continuation thereof. This lovv'er section carries the loiver cover 36, hinged thereon in a linoivn manner, for clos- ,inglilielinner of ythe trunk. Iii practice, this cover is-secured closed by suitable dogs, in a known manner. i

Ay drum casing or housing 3 7 is suitably mounted on the upper or outer face of coveri- 36. .Housing v37 is provided .with an up.g

member 38 through which 'cable passes `f toad'rum e9 rtatabiy mounted in the nous;

invano() a shaft rotatably mounted through bosses 46 and 47 of the housing and cover, respectively.

Cover 36 is provided, on its under face, with suitable lugs 48 to which is secured a accurate fit against the under face of the cover about shaft 45,'a gasket being interposed between the bear housing and the cover to provide a Water tight and pressure resistant closure about the shaft at this point. Shaft 47 extends into housing 49 and into a boss 50 at the under face of the housing, the boss being closed by a cap 51 and an associated gasket to provide a Water tight closure. A bevel gearV 52 lis secured on shaft 47 and meshes with bevel pinions 53 secured on the inner ends of shafts 54 rotatably mounted through bosses 55 `of the gear housing, and collars 56 at the 'outer ends of arms 57 projecting from the'housing. Cranks 58 are secured on the outer ends of 'shafts 54. Each of these cranks is providedwith ahandle 59 of a length to be lreadily grasped by tivo men. Preferabl. though not necessarily, astuiiing box f 601s provided about each shaft 54 to prevent escape of Water from the gear housing 49.

Normally, when the boat is submerged, the inner and outer covers of hatch trunk 31 are closed.` In the event of the boat being `disabled, through collision or otherwise, the in-v ner cover 36 Vis opened and the yend vof the 'cable 29 is' attached to a 'suitable float or buoy which is inserted into the trunk 31, and 'cover 36 .is then again secured closed. l This float may be of 'any suitable typel and, preferably, is' such that Vit may be used for storing goods in upon thejboat. This is of advantage as'sp'ace isy at a premium on a submarine bo'at.

After the float has been placed in the hatch trunk', and the inner cover closed, Water is admittedfrm the exterior `of the hull into the tr'u'nk to equalize the pressures on the inner a'douter surfaces of the outer hatch cover. Thisy may be accomplished byy any suitablearr'angement of valves, such as that disclosed in thecolpe'nding application of Laurence' Y. Spear for rescue car, filed February 20, 1928, Serial No. 255,682. The outer hatch cover' is then `opened from within the boat, by any suitable means suchas that disclosed in my c'o-pending applica-tion for escape hatch or submarines, filedk May 7, 128, Serial No.27 5,7 30. The cable is then unvvound from the drum sufficiently to permit the float to rise to and float upon the surface. 'i The tank,inoluding the member 13, cover 10 and rod I7,`is 'carried by the rescue ship, and the members 21 and 22 are preferably permanently attached to the cable 29, though theseV members may also be carried by the rescue ship and attached to the cable on board the rescue ship, if this seems desir- `gear housing 49 which isclosed and has an llO vio

able. It the members -21 and 22 remain permanently attached tothe cable, the container on board the submarine boat, which is to be used as a float, may lbe provided with apsuitable screw stud by means of which member' 21 can be quickly secured tothe float.

The rescue ship can quickly locate the float on the surtace,.which is picked up, and the cable is then secured to rod 17, by means of kmember 2 2, in the manner `previously `described, this rod being,ofcourse, first se cured to cover 10 which hasfbeen secured to the car inclosed p osition. l'Vhen the carhas been properly securedto the cable, the men on the submarine are apprised of thisfact in a suitable manner, and they then wind cable 29 back ontov the drum 39 hauling the car down. negative buoyancy imparted theretoinl any suitable manner, such as that disclosed in my copending applicationL for rescue buoy above identiiied. It' the` car has positive bu-oyancy, the cable 29 serves to haul it down, and it it has negative buoyancy itis lowered fromthe rescue ship by al suitable cable 62 secured through eye 61 at the top ot the tank.r

As the tank approaches the hatch trunk 31 the conical guiding structure enters'the trunk and guides thecar into proper relation thereto so that gasket 8 seats vupon the outerl end of the trunk. Cable 29 is then wound tight ly onto the drum to hold'the carinposition and the water is drained from the trunk in' a suitable manner. The preponderance A in pressure of the water onthe *car 1 nowV serves to hol-d the car `tightly seated upon the trunk 31. The inner coverv 36 is now opened and l the member 22 is detached from rod`17.

mea-ns of cable 62, and themen are removed.`

fcc

Member 13A is then removed and rod`17` is re"- move'd from cover110.y Cover `10 is then opened and the men enter thecar, closing and `securing the cover. The car is then raisedto thel surface bythe rescue ship, by

In the event that all of the men in the compartment of thesubmarine into which the trunk 31 opens, are unableto enter the car, the men remaining in such compartment `replace the rod 17 'and members 13, 21 and 22,

and` unwind the cable as the car is raised, the,-

car being returned, as before, to rescue such men remainmgin the compartment. 1

The rescue car la illustratedinFig. 2 is similar in all respect to that of Fig. 1 except thatit is more nearly cylindrical and can ac# commodate a greater number ot men; Y*

The cars have been `illustrated more or less diagramma-tically. In practice these cars may be equipped with suitable telephone instruments and cables for communicating lwith the rescue ship,aswell as air'hose, means i'or regulating the buoyancy of the tanks, and other equipment. The tanks may, however, be used without such equipment.

It is to be particularly noted that the cable The car may have either positive or drum and associated parts are mounted upon the` inner cover of the hatch trunk. lVhen this cover is ,in open position, t-he hatch trunk clear and unobstructed and is used to give ingress ancl- -egress to and from the hull Avin the usual manner. My invention is thuswell adapted Afor use with submarine boats of ac`-` r cepteddesign as it can be applied kto hatch trunks of present construction Without interfering with the normal use oif'suchftrunks, does not necessitate the provision of addi-, tional'hatch trunks or similarstructures, and

does. not occupy valuable spacewhich rcould be put to other uses.

l/Vhile I- have illustrated hand v.operated means for turning thecable drum,1 I do not limit myself to suchbm'eans, I contemplate the provision ofsuitable power means, such asv acompressed air motor, mounted upon the inner hatch cover 36.1

- I also contemplate the use of a jointed rod permanently secured to cover 10 of the tank,

instead of the rod 17, if desired, suchjointed rod permitting opening ofcover 10 intotank` `31 aiter removalotlmember 13. "Any-suit-k able'means may be employed forattaching .the cable to the tank, and for holdin -the cenrescuecar having a hatchopening at its vlower end and a removable cover therefor, a guide member'extending from the lower. end of the car 'and adapted to enterthe outer end ofthe trunk andcenter the ,car relative thereto, and

means for detachably securing the cable to the car and for removably holding the guide member in operative relation to the car.r

2.- In combination, a' rescue car having a hatch opening at its lower end, a removable cover for saidopening, a removable tapered guiding member having its base abuttingthe l' car and extending about the cover, and releasable means for attaching a cable tothe lower end of the car and for holding the guiding member against movement ,away from the car. a l l 3. In combination, a rescue car having hatch opening at its lower end, alcoverfor said opening, releasable meansfor securing the cover to the car in closed position, tne car having an annulus adapted for `seating upon a a hatchftrunk'andheing provided with a` downwardly and inwardlyinclined surface disposed-inwardly'of the annulus,-a rod cured toand depending from the cover, a downwardly tapering guide member having its base seat-inguponsaid inclined surfacaa tip member adapted for'securemen't to a cable, and means forl releasablyl securing the tip member'on the lower end of thero'd with its upper end abutting the lower end of said giideE member.

V4.'In combination, a rescue car having a hatch openingY at its lower end, a removable' cover for said opening, a` downwardly tapering removable' guide structure abutting the carabout saidopening, means or centering vsaid structure relative to the cover, the car hatch opening'at its lower end, a removable ing from the lower end of the car cover for said opening, the car having an annular outwardly projecting shoulder adjacent said opening and adapted for seating upon the outer end of a hatch trunk, and a downwardly taperingr guide member extend*- with its basel inside of and concentric with said shoulder.` Y L Y G. In combination, a rescue'car having' a hatch opening at its lower end, a removable cover for said opening, said car having an outwardly projecting annular shoulder beyond thego'pening' adapted ior seating upon the out-erend or" a hatch trunk, the car also having a downwardly and inwardly inclined surface extending from the shoulder, anda downwardly taperiii'g guide structure extending from' said surface.

7. In combination in a subm'arineboat, an access .hatchA trunk extending through the hull and'having its lower end adjacent the top of the hull, removable covers for the ends of the trunk, cable winding means carried by the inner cover and disposed within the trunk ,y when said inner cover is closed, said means being movable with the inner cover clear or' the trunk, the interior of the trunlrbeingrunobstructed whentlie inner cover is open and said trunk providing free ingress to and egress vfrom the hull when the boat is on the surface, and means operable from within the hull for operating said winding means.

8. In combination in a submarine boat, an access hatch Atrunk extending through and projecting outwardly beyond the hull, re-

movable covers for the ends of the trunk, cable `winding means carried by `the inner cover and disposed within the trunl; when saidinner cover isclosed, said means being movable with the inner cover clear or the trunk,'the interior ofV the trunk being'unobstructed when the inner cover is openand the trunk providing free ingressto and egress 9'. In combination ina submarine boat', an access hatch trunk extendii'ig through the hull,v removable covers for the ends of the' trunk, cable winding means carried by the inner coverand disposed within the trunk when said inner cover is cl'osed,fsaid means being movable with the inner cover clear of the trunk, the interior ofthe trunk'beingun# obstructed when the inner cover is open' and said trunk providing free ingress to and egress from the hull when the boat is on the surface, and means operable from within the hull for operating said'fwinding means,

10. In'combination in a submarine'boat, an access hatch trunk extending throughand projecting outwardly beyond the hull, the inner end oic vthe trunk being disposed adjacent the'top of the hull, removable covers vfor the ends of the trunk, cable winding means carried by the inner cover and disposed within the trunk when said inner cover is closed, said means being movable with the inner cover clear of the trunk, the interior of the trunk being unobstructed when the inner cover is open and said trunk providing free ingress to and egress from the hull when the boat is on the` surface, and means 'operable from within the hull for operating said winding means.

1l. In combination, a rescue car having a hatch opening at its lower end, a removable cover for said opening, a'removable tapered guidin member having its base abutting the car and extending about the cover, said member being reejoi projections, and releasable ont-o and oir of said means through the outer end ofthe trunk when the outer coverfis removed, a `rescue car having a'hatch opening at its lower end and removable cover therefor, the car having anannulus about 4said opening and adapted ior seating upon the outer end of the trunk, a downuf'ardly tapering guide member adapted to enter the trunk and havingl its base seating against the car within and concentric to Said annulus, said guide member being free from projections, means accessible exteriorlv of the carfor de-y tachably securing'thc guide member thereto, and means for detachably securing the cable tot-he guide member.v c

In witness whereof, I Ahereunto subscribe myname.

HUGO GRIESHABEB.

from the hull when the boat is on the surface, ,j

and means operable from within the hull for operating said winding means. 

